Texas League Celebrating Mike Coolbaugh Day During Week of July 19-25

For the first time, the Texas League will be celebrating Mike Coolbaugh Day in all of its clubs’ ballparks during the week of July 19-25, where Texas League players and fans will be invited to celebrate Mike’s life and legacy in baseball. Mike Coolbaugh Day ceremonies in each Texas League city will feature a special video presentation and first pitch, and all on-field personnel will wear commemorative wristbands.
We invite everyone to make it out to a Texas League game for Mike Coolbaugh Day! Click here to view the full press release for more information. See below for a complete list of dates and locations for Mike Coolbaugh Day 2014:

Saturday, July 19

Arkansas at TULSA, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, July 22

Frisco at MIDLAND, Game 1 of DH at 5:00 p.m.

Corpus Christi at SAN ANTONIO, 7:05 p.m.

Arkansas at NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, 7:05 p.m.

Tulsa at SRINGFIELD, 7:10 p.m.

Friday, July 25

San Antonio at FRISCO, 7:05 p.m.

Midland at CORPUS CHRISTI, 7:10 p.m.

Tulsa at ARKANSAS, 7:10 p.m.

Diamond Dreams & Keeper of the Game to Host Free Coaching Clinic

On January 26, 2014, James Vilade will put on a coaching clinic at First Baptist Frisco on behalf of Diamond Dreams and Keeper of the Game. Parents and coaches are invited to learn about effective ways of teaching baseball and off-the-field lessons to kids. There is no charge to attend. Visit First Baptist Frisco for more information.

Jamey Newberg is 2013 Diamond Dreams “Keeper of the Game”

07-22-2013:
Mike Coolbaugh Diamond Dreams is proud to announce that it has selected Dallas attorney, blogger and baseball advocate Jamey Newberg as its “Keeper of the Game” award winner for 2013.

The Diamond Dreams Keeper of the Game award is given annually to recognize a special person, family, or organization committed to serving the baseball community in North Texas and beyond through gifts of time and treasure and perpetuating the qualities of the game that exemplify Mike Coolbaugh’s dedication and values. The award’s honoree is announced each year on the anniversary of Mike Coolbaugh’s tragic accident as the Coolbaugh and Diamond Dreams families remember what Mike meant to all those who knew him. Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis and his wife Jill were the recipients of the inaugural Keeper of the Game award in 2012.

Jamey is the 2013 Keeper of the Game because of his work over the last decade in raising money for local charities through his Newberg Report functions and promoting baseball throughout Texas. Through the years, the Newberg Report community and other local baseball enthusiasts have raised more than $75,000 to support a number of worthy causes including, among others, the Hello Win Column Fund, Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer, the Genesis Women’s Shelter, the Feed the Children Foundation, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, the Shannon Stone Memorial Fund, the Emilie Parker Memorial Fund, Toys For Tots, and Diamond Dreams.

In connection with this award, Diamond Dreams has made a contribution to Kidd’s Kids in Jamey’s name.

Click here for the entire press release. Read Jamey’s Newberg Report or order his books here. Click here for more information about the Diamond Dreams Keeper of the Game award.

Diamond Dreams Announces Winners of 2013 Scholarships

06-01-2013:
In 2013, Diamond Dreams is awarding scholarships to two exceptional student-athletes: Robert Pedroza of San Antonio Roosevelt High School and Mason Hairston of Plano West High School. Congratulations to Robert and Mason!

07-23-2013 UPDATE:
The Frisco Rough Riders invited Diamond Dreams Scholarship recipient Mason Hairston to throw out the first pitch in memory of Mike Coolbaugh before the July 22 game.

Diamond Dreams Scholarship recipient Mason Hairston throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Dr. Pepper Ballpark on July 22. Photo courtesy of the Frisco Rough Riders.

Diamond Dreams Honors Chris & Jill Davis as its “Keepers of the Game” for 2012

02-01-2013:
Mike Coolbaugh Diamond Dreams is proud to announce that it has named major league baseball player Chris Davis and his wife Jill the recipients of the first annual Diamond Dreams “Keeper of the Game” award.

The Diamond Dreams Keeper of the Game Award will be given annually to recognize a special person, family, or organization committed to serving the baseball community in North Texas and beyond through gifts of time and treasure and perpetuating the qualities of the game that exemplify Mike Coolbaugh’s dedication and values. For 2012, Diamond Dreams selected Chris and Jill Davis as the award’s first-ever recipients. In addition to recognizing Chris and Jill at an award presentation dinner in January, Diamond Dreams made a donation in the Davises’ names to the baseball booster club at Longview High School in Longview, Texas, from which Chris graduated in 2004.

After a successful career for the Lobos at Longview High, Chris played two seasons at Navarro Junior College. Chris was drafted twice before but did not sign until after the Texas Rangers selected him in the sixth round of the 2006 draft. After a stellar minor league career, Davis played with the Rangers for parts of four seasons before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2011. After Chris and Jill got married in the offseason, Chris blossomed with the Orioles in 2012, hitting 33 home runs and leading the club in several offensive categories while helping Baltimore earn its first postseason appearance in more than a decade.

But it is Chris and Jill’s devotion to their faith and attention to caring for others that call for recognition. Chris and Jill have been go-to people for Diamond Dreams whenever any assistance with a project, event, or fundraiser has been needed. In addition to bowling with VIP donors at fundraisers, donating memorabilia for Diamond Dreams auctions, and being generous with their time and resources, Chris and Jill Davis have helped Diamond Dreams grow its presence in baseball communities near and far.

Click here for the entire press release. Click here for more information about the Diamond Dreams Keeper of the Game award.

In February 2007, the Grapevine High School baseball community experienced an unthinkable tragedy when junior baseball player Chris Gavora was struck by a batted ball in a batting cage during pre-game warmups. Two days after the accident, Chris passed away from the injuries he sustained. Five months later, the Coolbaugh family and the professional baseball community were dealt the same cruel experience when a line drive hit Mike Coolbaugh, killing him instantly, while he was coaching first base for the Tulsa Drillers during a AA Texas League game. But out of their tragic circumstances, the Gavora and Coolbaugh families have been resilient, sharing a unique bond and expressing a shared desire to use their loved ones’ memory to promote safety in the game of baseball.

The manifestation of this shared desire is the Grapevine High School Hitting Facility, a new covered baseball/softball facility that will provide the Grapevine High School teams with a safe place to practice year-round. The Grapevine High School Hitting Facility is a state-of-the-art, all-weather facility featuring artificial turf, multiple pitching mounds and batting cages, and the flexibility to transform in order to fit the teams’ daily practice needs.

12/17/2012:
Special thanks to the Plano West High School Baseball program and its parents, supporters, coaches, and boosters! Thanks to the generosity of PWHS Diamond Dreams collected more than a dozen boxes of new and gently used baseball equipment that was shipped to Loving, New Mexico to be used by the players of Loving Little League. Learn more about Make It Home Safe and see more pictures of the Plano West work day.

Photo courtesy of Walt Barnard

Diamond Dreams Makes First Awards in Make It Home Safe Program

12/01/2012:
Diamond Dreams is pleased to report that it is making two awards in connection with the new Make It Home Safe program:

Roosevelt High School (San Antonio) softball program has receieved a donation to cover the expense of replacing nets in pitching screens

Loving Little League (Loving, New Mexico) will be shipped new and gently used equipment for its little leaguers of all ages

10-16-2012:
In 2012, L.D. Bell baseball coach Paul Gibson was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, and his treatment has required him to travel for extended stays out of state. Diamond Dreams was proud to join the Texas Stix Baseball Club in sponsoring a golf tournament supporting the Gibson family. Coach Gibson has been deeply involved in his community and has meant so much to countless DFW-area baseball players and their families. For more information about Coach Gibson visit Team Gibson. Click here to hear Coach Gibson tell his story.

Scott Coolbaugh Talks About “Make It Home Safe” on Rangers Insider TV Show

08-02-2012:
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation hosted the Scott Coolbaugh Hitting Clinic on August 1, 2012 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Diamond Dreams. Check out pictures from the clinic on Facebook.

Five Years After Tragic Accident, Diamond Dreams Remembers Mike Coolbaugh and Announces “Make It Home Safe” Program